|
G.P. Vanier band gearing up for trip to Ottawa, conducting fundraisers
Emily Plihal
Express staff
The Georges P. Vanier band has been working hard to fundraise for a trip of a lifetime this spring.
The school band was offered a chance to go to Ottawa this spring to participate in Music Fest Canada, being held in Ottawa from May 17–22.
“We have been really happy with the support from the community in the past couple of months,” says G.P. Vanier Band Parents’ association president Michelle Simoneau. “They’ve rallied together to find odd jobs for the students to do to raise enough money to go on this trip.”
Simoneau explains the school has decided to send students in band from grades 8 to 12 this spring, extending it from the initial group of grade 8 and 9. Approximately 50 students will experience the Music Fest Canada first hand, if enough money can be earned.
The grade 8/9 band competed at the Grande Prairie band competition last school year, and impressed the crowd with a performance that prompted the adjudicator to invite the band to national competition in Ottawa.
Junior High band teacher Pam Heckbert says the students deserve to be going on the trip.
“Last year, the band competed and received a gold rating which is the highest level at the Grande Prairie competition,” says Heckbert. “They also received an award for their efforts.”
Heckbert explained the festival organizer asked if the school would be interested in having the students compete at national level.
The cost of the trip for each child is estimated between $1,300 – $1,500. Heckbert explains this includes flights and accommodations, listening to the Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra in concert, a concert of the Central Band of the Canadian Forces, National Arts Centre Orchestra subscription series concerts on May 20 and May 21 at Southam Hall, educoncerts with the Capital BrassWorks, Yamaha Custom Z Combo, McGill Faculty Student Ensemble, and Humber Faculty Quartet and up to $100,000 in scholarships and awards.
“We are so proud of these hard working, dedicated and talented band students,” says Heckbert. “They are now working hard to fundraise to offset costs in a lifetime experience.”
Thus far, the students have auctioned off items at the Christmas concert in December and have worked various jobs as part of the “Odd Job Squad” to raise money for their trip.
Simoneau says a bottle drive was conducted last weekend, and the students are still looking for jobs in the community to do to raise funds.
She says so far they have done a coat check, washed dishes, done inventory counts for stores, and they are willing to do many odd jobs throughout the community.
If you know of anyone who needs assistance with their yard maintenance, stores or with some type of odd job, Simoneau urges you to call Pam Heckbert at G.P. Vanier to hire the students for the job. If you are interested in having the students raise money by helping you, please phone Pam at 780-925-3959.
“We will also be holding a silent auction at the Strike up the Band event this April,” says Simoneau.
Previous
Home
Next
|
